156: Chapter 156 Children are children, and you are you; don't confuse the two.

"Kneel." The two words fell heavily.

Jiang Xiaowan sat on the edge of the bed, the smile on her face frozen. She had just showered, her long hair draped over her shoulders, her pajamas loose, and her hand still resting on her lower abdomen.

Jiang Xiaowan looked up, her eyes reddening. "Lin Yuan." Her voice lowered. "I am pregnant."

Lin Yuan walked up to her. "I know." Jiang Xiaowan's chest rose and fell. "Then why are you still making me kneel?"

Lin Yuan looked at her. "A child is a child." "Rules are rules."

Jiang Xiaowan's lips moved, but she didn't speak. She wasn't stupid. She knew her attitude toward Su Xiaonuan this afternoon had crossed the line. But she also felt aggrieved.

"My father almost died." "I was betrayed by my own family!" "As soon as I arrived here, Su Xiaonuan has been using those bullshit rules to suppress me!" "Why?"

At that moment, she completely forgot what she owed Su Xiaonuan when she left Tiangong No. 1.

Jiang Xiaowan slowly stood up, her hand protecting her lower abdomen. "I won't kneel!" "The child in my belly cannot suffer grievances along with me."

Lin Yuan sat on the edge of the bed, took out a cigarette, looked at Jiang Xiaowan's belly, and then put it away.

"Jiang Xiaowan, you still haven't grasped one thing." "If I acknowledge you, you are still Miss Jiang." "If I don't acknowledge you, you are just a pregnant survivor."

Jiang Xiaowan's face turned pale. Lin Yuan tapped his knee lightly. "Tiangong No. 1 will not change its rules because of a child." "And it certainly won't change its mistress because of you."

Jiang Xiaowan's tears fell. She wanted to curse. She wanted to bite him. She wanted to scream "you son of a bitch" at him. But she didn't dare. She could only stare with red eyes, clutching the hem of her pajamas tightly.

"Then why did you save me and bring me back?" "For the sake of the child?" Lin Yuan looked at her. "Wasn't it you who asked me to save you?" "I was willing to go only because I don't want my things to be touched by others."

Jiang Xiaowan was stunned. These words were harsh. So harsh they made her want to laugh. Yet, a certain part of her heart grew quiet. It wasn't out of pity. It wasn't out of love. It was possession. But in the apocalypse, being possessed by someone like Lin Yuan was more secure than any promise.

Lin Yuan picked up the communicator. "Su Xiaonuan." Footsteps were soon heard outside the door. Su Xiaonuan pushed the door open and entered. She was wearing light-colored loungewear, holding a tablet in her arms, her hair damp, with a faint scent of jasmine about her. Seeing Jiang Xiaowan standing, she didn't ask any questions and walked straight to Lin Yuan. "Boss Lin."

Lin Yuan patted the spot beside him. Su Xiaonuan hesitated for half a second, then sat down. Jiang Xiaowan watched this scene, her fingers tightening. She had just put on airs in front of Su Xiaonuan during the day. Now, Lin Yuan was letting Su Xiaonuan sit by his side. This hurt more than a slap in the face.

Lin Yuan spoke. "From today on, Jiang Xiaowan's diet, accommodation, security, communication, and range of activities are all under your management." Su Xiaonuan lowered her head. "Yes, Boss Lin."

Jiang Xiaowan looked up. "Housekeeper Su is truly considerate." As soon as the words left her mouth, the room turned icy. Lin Yuan looked at her. "One last time, kneel."

Jiang Xiaowan's shoulders trembled. Lin Yuan's gaze made her back go cold. She didn't doubt for a second that if she acted out again, she would be abandoned by Lin Yuan. A few seconds later. She held onto the edge of the bed and slowly knelt down. Her knees touched the carpet. It didn't hurt. But she felt as if her entire being had been stripped bare.

Jiang Xiaowan looked up at Su Xiaonuan. "Are you satisfied?" Su Xiaonuan's voice was very soft. "There is no such thing as satisfied or dissatisfied." "I am just executing Boss Lin's orders."

This sentence left Jiang Xiaowan speechless. She could be sarcastic toward Su Xiaonuan. She could feign grievances. But she could not defy Lin Yuan's orders.

Lin Yuan looked at Jiang Xiaowan. "That act you pulled at the Jiang Family is useless here." "Tiangong No. 1 only cares about one thing." Jiang Xiaowan asked: "What?" Lin Yuan pointed to Su Xiaonuan. "My rules."

Jiang Xiaowan's tears fell again. She lowered her head and suddenly laughed. "So I'm not even as good as a steward?" "Correct."

Lin Yuan reached out and touched Su Xiaonuan, who was a head shorter than him beside him. His fingers stroked her damp hair. "Xiaonuan represents me, and you, you haven't reached that position yet."

Su Xiaonuan's fingers paused on the tablet. She didn't interrupt. A long-lost sense of joy bloomed in her heart. Jiang Xiaowan's throat tightened. "Then what about the child?"

Lin Yuan looked at her lower abdomen. "I said, do not conflate the two."

Jiang Xiaowan's chest felt blocked. She finally understood. Lin Yuan protected the child. He also protected her. But not because she could use the child to trade for status. It was because she was originally an asset that Lin Yuan had reclaimed. Assets could be protected. They could also be liquidated.

Lin Yuan stood up. "Kneel by the bed and watch tonight." Jiang Xiaowan looked up. "Watch what?" Lin Yuan didn't answer, turning to wrap his arm around Su Xiaonuan's waist.

Jiang Xiaowan's expression changed. Su Xiaonuan also stiffened for a moment. But she quickly put down the tablet. She took the initiative and kissed him. A wave of bitterness welled up in Jiang Xiaowan's heart. It was sour and painful. She had thought that by being pregnant with his child, she could occupy a unique position with Lin Yuan. But now she realized. Su Xiaonuan didn't have a child. She relied on the trust Lin Yuan gave her. That was the true privilege.

The lights in the room were dimmed. Lin Yuan didn't look at Jiang Xiaowan. This indifference was heavier than any humiliation. Jiang Xiaowan knelt, her hand resting on her lower abdomen. She bit her lip, not letting herself make a sound. Yet, that bit of grievance in her heart was mixed with a strange sense of security. At least, under these rules, no one dared to touch her or the child.

[Ding! Target Jiang Xiaowan (Beauty 92), Favorability + 1%, Current Favorability: 36%.]

Half an hour later. Jiang Xiaowan was still kneeling by the bed. Her legs were a bit numb, but she didn't dare move. Su Xiaonuan's hand remained pressed against Lin Yuan's back, but her fingertips were getting colder and colder. She kept muttering something, as if guarding the entire Tiangong No. 1 for Lin Yuan. But the force pressing down on her chest was about to tear her apart.

Lin Yuan's high-level Mental Energy suddenly sensed Su Xiaonuan's abnormality, and he stopped his movements and looked at her. "Xiaonuan?" Su Xiaonuan looked up, her voice trembling. "Boss Lin... I think I..."

Before she could finish, the bedside lamp suddenly disappeared. It didn't turn off. The entire lamp was swallowed by a black fissure. The next second. Bang. The lamp fell out from mid-air and smashed onto the carpet. The dinner plate was swept up. The water glass, coat hanger, and files in the drawer were all pulled by an invisible force at the same time. The wardrobe door opened and closed. A rip was torn into the bedsheet.

Jiang Xiaowan was frightened and held onto the edge of the bed. "What's going on?" Su Xiaonuan's face was deathly pale, her eyes reddened. "Boss Lin, I can't control it..." Another fissure opened in her palm. It was pitch black inside. Lin Yuan grabbed her wrist. "Don't be afraid, I am here." Su Muxue's voice followed immediately. "Xiaonuan's physical data is abnormal!" "She is awakening her Superpower!" Lin Yuan looked into Su Xiaonuan's eyes. This scene had not happened in his past life. Su Xiaonuan's Spatial Ability. It had awakened.